AIB - Better Ireland

a) You can vote by sending an SMS/Text Message or an online submission during the period starting from 12 midnight 15th February 2010 until 12 midnight 15th March 2010. AIB reserves the right to extend, postpone, or cancel voting without notice at any time.

b) To cast an SMS/Text vote, voters must send an SMS/Text message from their mobile phone handset, containing their AIB branch code along with their chosen Group out of the Groups advertised, to 51303.

c) Each SMS/Text message costs your Operator’s standard rate. Operator charges vary depending on the Operator used. If you vote by SMS/Text Message and are not the bill payer you must seek the permission of the person responsible for paying the phone bill before voting.

d) To cast an online vote, voters must enter an online submission, by selecting their preferred AIB Branch, chosen Group and entering a valid email address.

e) You may vote as many times as you like by way of SMS/Text Message, however we do recommend you set yourself a limit and vote responsibly.
You may cast an online vote no more than once every 24 hours. Your email address will be stored until midnight on the day you cast your vote, ensuring responsible voting at all times

f) In terms of voting by way of SMS/Text Message all charges will be deducted from your available credit time if you are a pre-pay customer or will appear on your monthly statement if you pay monthly. All queries in relation to billing should be directed to your mobile carrier. Pre-paid customers must ensure they have enough credit to cover the cost of each vote registered; only fully paid votes will be deemed valid and counted toward the final tally.

g) You must ensure that all care is taken when sending messages to the SMS/Text message numbers. It is your responsibility to send the correct message. AIB will not be liable for costs incurred or any other consequences of user error

h) Proof of sending is not proof of receipt. No responsibility will be accepted for non-receipt for any reason of a SMS/Text message vote or online vote.

i) All SMS/Text votes received will be sent a reply confirmation message. Response times for SMS return messages may vary and are subject to network coverage and availability, alert volumes, availability of memory on your SIM card and/or any other technical problems.
Online votes received will not be sent a reply confirmation message. A thank you page will be displayed confirming that the vote has been cast.

j) You acknowledge that if you text outside the specified voting period your vote will not be registered but you may still be charged. Voting times may change. Any votes received outside the specified voting period will be disregarded and will not go towards the final result.
You acknowledge that if you submit an online vote outside the specified voting period your vote will not be registered. Voting times may change. Any votes received outside the specified voting period will be disregarded and will not go towards the final result.

k) There shall be three prizes. The Winning Group shall obtain the sum of €5,000.
The Group who is runner up shall obtain the sum of €3,000
The Group who take 3rd prize shall obtain the sum of €2,000
No alternative or other cash prize shall be available.

l) The winning Group shall be the Group who has obtained the most combined SMS and online votes.The runner up shall be the Group who has obtained the 2nd most combined SMS and online votes and the Group to take third prize shall be the Group who has obtained the 3rd most combined SMS and online votes.

m) AIB’s decision on voting arrangements and the validity of votes and the ultimate tally will be final and conclusive and no correspondence will be entered into. To ensure impartiality, the counting of votes is performed by independent provider PUCA and an independent adjudicator will verify the count of the votes as provided by PUCA.

n) In the event of a tied vote the two groups will share the prize fund which will be added and split evently i.e. 1st and 2nd tie - €5000 + €30000 = €8000 so €4000 each, 2nd and 3rd place tie = €3000 + €2000 = €5000 so €2,500 each.

o) The winning Group will be contacted by their local branch week commencing the 22nd March 2010 and the name of the winning Group will be published on on www.aib.ie/betterireland and www.betterireland.ie

p) AIB reserves the right to disqualify votes/parties if it has reasonable grounds to suspect that fraudulent voting has occurred or if it considers there has been any attempt to tamper with the voting.

q) If for any reason the the SMS/Text voting service or online voting service is not capable of running as planned, due to causes including but not limited to tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other causes beyond the control of AIB which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the voting service, AIB shall be entitled to make whatever decision it deems appropriate and reserves the right in its sole discretion to take any action that may be available, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the voting service. AIB further reserves the right to amend, withdraw or terminate the specification for the voting or the format of the Better Ireland Programme without notice.

r) Neither AIB, its sub-contractors or agents accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem with any mobile network, internet connection or line, system, server, provider or otherwise which may result in any vote being lost or not properly registered or recorded or for any indirect/special and/or consequential damages or loss whatsoever which result from any use or access to or any inability to use or access the SMS/Text Message Voting service or online Voting service.

s) AIB reserve the right to keep all voting tallies and votes confidential. No results other than those required for the purpose of the format of the AIB Better Ireland Programme will be released to the public.
Your mobile number will only be used for the purpose of registering your vote and will not be retained after the completion of the competition
Your email address will only be used for the purpose of registering your vote and will not be retained after the completion of the competition.

t) Any queries relating to SMS/Text Messaging entries should be addressed to your mobile carrier.
Any queries relating to online voting entries should be addressed to AIB Better Ireland Programme, AIB Bankcentre, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

u) Any complaints should be addressed in writing to AIB Better Ireland Programme, AIB Bankcentre, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

v) The Service Provider is PÚCA PO Box 10975, Dublin 6 (01) 4995939. The Promoter is Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c., Registered address: Bankcentre, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.